Growing Places are committed to enhancing lives, raising aspirations, and creating opportunities for all stakeholders.
Together we develop sociable, articulate, responsible, caring children with tolerance, understanding and respect for each other and their community.
We provide a range of opportunities to encourage children to explore, think for themselves, and work collaboratively with others.
We also encourage children to reflect on their learning, recognising that it is only through making mistakes that real learning happens.
In doing so, we build children's resilience, self-esteem and self-belief, encouraging positive attitudes for life.
FACILITIES AND INITIATIVES
OUTDOOR FACITLITIES
We have an outdoor facility in Wickham, Little Acorns, which we share with our extended family of donkeys, goats, sheep, ducks, and chickens.
Also, a woodland in East Meon which we are developing into a retreat for team members and families. These facilities are also available to hire at very reasonable rates, to schools, nurseries and other community groups.
INTERGENERATIONAL
We began our intergenerational connections over 12 years ago, and this venture has gone from strength to strength. We are now part of a national project, (Born 4 Life) looking at the benefits of these opportunities to all children and elders.
ONE PROJECT (OUTDOOR NATURE ENVIRONMENT)
We have developed a programme that has allowed our children access to local natural environments, allowing them to experience nature and all it can offer. The Outdoor project was created in September 2015 to give children the opportunity to immerse themselves freely in the outdoors once a week with an Explorer Guide from their setting.
PHYSICAL PLACES
Growing Places is proud to provide enhanced learning opportunities for boys under 5. We have developed a programme that has allowed some of our children access to lots of physical opportunities to support their individual development and to help them with the skills they will need for the future.
TRAINING EXCELLENCE
We offer bespoke training and consultancy to other early years providers and schools and deliver our own physical, outdoors and SEND projects and intervention groups internally, soon to be offered externally to other settings.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Growing Places began life as a nursery group but has evolved throughout the years to offer so much more to our local community and beyond.
PANTRY
We run a pantry in Waterlooville and Fareham, where families can access at least £20 worth of groceries and/or toiletries for £5. We also hold cook and eat sessions for families, supporting them to make healthy choices that are affordable.
COMMUNITY
We recently became the proud custodians of a community building in Waterlooville, Anders Hall, where we offer holiday clubs and community events. The building facilities also include a garden space, modern kitchen and a large community hall which is available for hire at very competitive rates.
SECOND BLOOM
We have a volunteer, Emma who runs a clothing recycling scheme called Second Bloom where anybody can find clothes for any age or size child or adult, all for £1 an item. She holds regular Second Bloom sales, which are hugely popular, well attended and supported in the community. She also funds special care packages or clothing when she can, and will signpost families to support from our own family support worker, Lacey.
